The Washington critic., 1887-05-05
WEST vIRGIsIA's SENATOR.

for reelection to the United States
Senate, which continued in both the
regular and special sessions of the
West Virginia Legislature, As twelve
Democrats alt along declined to vote
for him, bis re election was impossible
without Republican '>,'sistance which
at one time It was Thought he would
have no difficulty in obtaining. lie
did secure two or three Republican
votes. but the remainder. in obedience
10 the mandates Of party caucls, nd.
hercd to a candidate %! their own faith.
Mr.. Camden being uul Of the way, 1t
is sufficient TIN. 4 y IN nritic cllClS,
alterded by all the Democratic mem
bers, will nominate candidate who
will at once he elected. This wOuli
settle the matter were II not for the
action of Governor Wilson, who, i'm.
mediateiy upon the expiration of the
regular session Of the LEGISLATURE, no
Senator having been chosen, appointed
Mr. Dauiel i. Lucas to the vacancy
then existing.
The latter claims 10 be cntitlel to a
seat In the Senate until the Legislature
at its next regular session in January,
1880, shall choose Senator, holding
that, as the State Constitution limits
the work Of special session to the OBJ.
jects set forth in the Governors proc.
lamation calling the Legislature to.
gether, and as no mention was made
therein of the election of Senator,
none can lawfully be elected. On the
other hand, It may be said that the
Constitution of the United States and
not the Constitution of West Virginia
regulates the election of United States
Senators, and the former instrument
declares expressly that Senators shall
be chosen by the Legislature in each
State and that temporary appointments
by the Governor shall hold good only
until the next meeting of the Lcgisla-
ture.
The latest case arose In consequence
of the death, year ago, of Senator
John T. Miller of California. Gov.
ernor Stoneman, the Legislature not
being In session, appointed George
Hearst, who Immediately qualified.
Later on, after Congress adjourned,
Governor Stoneman called special
session of the Legislature TO consider
irrigation matters, without mentioning
the Senatorial vacancy. The Legisla-
turc, the second Tuesday after Ii con.
yenod, elected A. p Williams Senator,
who was sworn in without objection at
the beginning Of the last session of the
Senate as the successor, not of George
Hearst, the nd interim appointee of the
Governor, but of John f. Miller. the
deceased Senator, who had been rcsu.
larly chosen by the Legislature.
The Kentucky Democrats In con-
veniion yesterday assured the Presi.
dent of their unfaItering confidence
and support, although an element of
disafTcction put in an appearance in
the person of Congressman Taulbee,
who appears not to be altogether salts.
fed with the pension vet, policy of the
Administration. The platform, which
is said 10 be the joint composition of
Mr., Carlisle and Henry Watterson,
commends the President for protecting
the Treasury from pillage, denounces
the war tariff in set phrase aud "vlews
with alarm the growing tendency" to
seek the aid and bounty Of the General
Government, which is covert attack
on the Blair Educational bill. The
CiyilSeryice Reform plank reads as
follows;
We favor honest oiyll.servlce reform, by
which We mean the enforcement of the faith
iul performance by persons appointed to
tffice OF all public duties entrusted to them
and TO this end, as well as to the maintenance
of the spirit of our representative form of
government, we demand the strlctcst meas
ures Of personal and party responsibility. and
are opposed TO the substitution in place OF
this Of lite-terms, civil pension list, and all
other appendages Of a bureaucratic system,
foreign to the genius Of our Institutions and
people.
The chief objection to this resolution
is its length. 1t could have been more
concisely expressed as follows: "R0.
s0lced, That really honest Civil Service
Reform means faithful performances
of public duties by competent Demo.
cratic officials, rs coutradislinguished
from the Mngwump species of Re.
form" All in all, however, the work
of the convention was clcygrly done,
and ought to be satisfactory to the
President, us guarantee Of Kentucky i
good faith.
GENERAL THOMAS /. RossER, in hti
letter denouncing Little Phil' Sheri.
dan, the Lieutenant General Of the
Army Of the Uni'cl States, say: IL
have forgiven the brave men of the
Union Army whom met in honoraJl
battle" etc, which Is very kind, In.
deed, on the part OF the eX Confederate
brigadier. Il is only elualled In lt5
spirit of generosity by the yiolator of
law who forgiyes the court for enforc.
Ing the penalty. But setting aside all
prejudice in the matter, one way or tho
other, General Itosser's card Is in tho
worst possible taste and out of keeping
with the amenities of the new age.
Were the same animus to pervade the
late oontending sections of the Union
generally, the country wouldn't be
worth living in,
THE idea Is entertained In some
quarters that the visit Of Sir Edward
Thornton to this country possesses i'm,